renting out rv

[soozcna]

My husband and I are taking a year off from traveling in our rv. we were thinking about renting it out but unsure if this is a good idea.It is a 1998 Coachmen Santara, we are unable to rent through a company such as RVshare because of its age. Is this something we can do on our own? Any advise?


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[Atlee]

No. I assume anyone renting is going to treat it badly. Ride it hard and put it up wet.

Further, if I need the money from renting to offset the cost of owning the RV, then it will be time to get out of RVing altogether.

[rockhillmanor]

NO.
X2 For all the reasons previously posted.

[soren]

I have a twelve year old class A that has been lovingly used and maintained from new. I can, and will, repair anything on it that doesn't require the services of a heavy truck shop. That said, there is no such thing as a returning from a trip without at least a thing or two to repair, replace or do scheduled maintenance on. Keeping in mind that all of this wear, and repair, is a result of use (NOT abuse) by a careful owner, who is a decent mechanic, and respects, understands and does not abuse the rig. I just can't wrap my head around renting a 21-22 year old rig, to clueless strangers, and the whole experience NOT turning to a total mess for everyone involved.I have watched too many totally clueless renters beating the life out of rental rigs, to ever even consider renting anything I own, to anybody.

[Gdetrailer]

soozcna wrote:
My husband and I are taking a year off from traveling in our rv. we were thinking about renting it out but unsure if this is a good idea.It is a 1998 Coachmen Santara, we are unable to rent through a company such as RVshare because of its age. Is this something we can do on our own? Any advise?

An extremely foolish way to destroy your rig.

Perhaps you would get more enjoyment by driving it in a smash em up derby if you can't use it for camping. That IS basically what a renter is going to do to it so you may as well beat it up and send it to the bone yard yourself.

It won't hurt it letting it set a year and you pretty much will end up spending a lot of money attempting to repair what the renters destroy.

In other words, you WILL LOSE MONEY by renting it.

A renter will not take as good of care as you, they have NOTHING TO LOSE, but YOU DO.

[RambleOnNW]

I would never rent our rv for the reasons other folks mentioned. I did see a peer to peer rv sharing company got a $50 meg round of funding earlier this year so there must be more folks willing to rent than indicated by rv.net readers.

Rvs cost a large amount so the appeal to be able to rent is clear.

[Mr_Mark1]

As many here have said, I too think it's not a good idea to rent it out and the motorhome is 20 yrs. old. I would imagine that it needs something (repairs/maintenance) fairly regularly. No one will ever take care of a unit better than you would. I've seen rental cars that were brand new that were abused.

We rented RV's three times before we decided to buy. The company that we rented from in Southern California traded-in their rental fleet every year for a whole new batch (30+ RV's).

The owner told me that it was better to get new ones every year rather than trying to fix 'age' related items. I'm sure he had a good agreement with Fleetwood as that's what he rented (class C's and class A's gas and diesel).

I would sell it or store it until you are ready to get back on the road.

Safe travels,
MM.

[Jebby14]

I have a bridge for sale if you're interested.

[TNGW1500SE]

I'll rent mine! 90K per year. Cash only. Must be paid in full in advance. Comes with a full fresh water tank, a 4 year old map and any extras you find that I left inside. PM me if interested. First come, first served.

[ford_truck_guy]

Bumpyroad wrote:
go to a NASCAR race and notice the various chairs propped up on the parked RVs
bumpy

several years ago, when I first started at NASCAR tracks the spot next to me was young kids...

They rented a TT from a local place and just had to show up at the track... they had the largest, loudest parties of the weekend...

Door was left open ALL weekend, some were getting sick outside, I can only assume inside also.. They never even made it to the actual race, but I really do not think they intended to ..

I have since kept renewing, and relocating till I got a nice spot up top and LOVE IT !

[Bumpyroad]

go to a NASCAR race and notice the various chairs propped up on the parked RVs
bumpy

[samsontdog]

I am in the rental buisness and I see the abuse my rentals take. I say NO ,NO NO.

[DownTheAvenue]

As an attorney, I can tell you that renting a privately owned vehicle to someone opens the vehicle owner to many potential liabilities that a standard insurance policy will not cover. Then add the potential abuse your RV could get from a renter and the potential for theft or abandonment, it is just not worth it.

[centerline]

an RV is one of the most delicate toys one can own. they arent built for even the slightest amount of abuse... but when taken care of properly, they can last a long time.
when one has no clue about RV's, and the unit isnt owned by the user, it can take an unusual amount of abuse....

the reason RVshare doesnt want it in their lineup, is that an older unit is prone to more problems that a newer one is unlikely to have, and with the price of the rental on an older unit being less, and a potentially higher number of repairs, there is no profit in it....

as has been said already by Dutchman, you will be money ahead selling it now and buying a newer unit later, IF you decide to go back to RV'ing after your time away from it...

[DutchmenSport]

Before you rent it out, you are better off to sell it right out. A year from now when you are ready to get back into RVing, buy a new camper.

If you rent, you'll loose everything. At least selling now, you'll still get something out of it without the hassles and disappointments and expenses.

[gbopp]

jfkmk wrote:
I'd also very concerned about someone breaking down in a 20 year old rig and suing me. No way.

I wouldn't be concerned about getting sued, a new motorhome can break down just as easily as an old one.
I would be concerned about the renter calling and telling me MY transmission just self destructed. The rig is 900 miles away and they're mailing me the keys.